Border Violence, the News Media, and the Hispanic Border Community

• In Event: Latin@ Criminology Panel 3: Current Patterns of Crime and Victimization among Latin@s

Abstract

This research analyzes how the media on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border portrayed the issue of border violence and spillover violence and its potential impact on Hispanic border communities. National newspapers from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border were analyzed from January 2009 through January 2012, The New York Times for the United States and El Universal for Mexico, which resulted in a sample of 602 newspaper articles. Qualitative research methods were utilized to collect and analyze the data, specifically content analysis. Drawing on a theoretical framework of the media this study addressed how the media’s portrayal of border violence and spillover violence helps to foster an “US vs. Them” mentality. This study revealed two framing devices, “fear mongering” and “the need for increase in border security” which were utilized by The New York Times and El Universal to discuss and the issue on Mexico’s border violence and the threat of spillover violence. These framing devices can foster an “US vs. Them” mentality in Hispanic border communities by the way that victims are portrayed and the constant talk about the threat of violence spilling over from Mexico into the United States

Author

• Omar Camarillo, Eastern New Mexico University